Morning – Visit the Chengdu Panda Base for a wonderful time being close to these lovely creatures.

From the peaceful, beautiful natural environment to the quality service, your visit will be one of calm and enjoyment. You will learn about giant panda conservation, and how we need your help to protect our earth for us and future generations. The Panda base is easily accessible, as it is located no more than 10 kilometers north of Chengdu on the Futou Mountain. Rivers, lakes, brooks, ornamental green lawns and greens, wild bamboo forests and, woods, man-made dens, rocks, caves and plant pits, simulates the panda’s natural ecological environment. The landscape combined with enrichment and climbing apparatuses create a natural and mentally healthy environment for the pandas.

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Mid-afternoon – we will have lunch and then visit the spectacularly fascinating and mysterious Museum at Sanxingdui – where it is said the origins of Shamanism and Taoism may have begun.

The structure of the Sanxingdui museum is a magnificent innovation with a style of solemnity, which consists of two galleries. Gallery one represents an arc-sloped ecological building, emphasizing the theme that human world and nature are in perfect harmony. Gallery two is spiral architecture, symbolizing both Three-star Mounds and the course of human history development. Through the cultural symbolic building, they implicitly convey rich connotation and profound historical deposits of Sanxingdui culture and also reflect the eternal theme of man and society as well as man and nature.

The display of the Sanxingdui museum is entitled Ancient City, Ancient State and Ancient Shu Culture, which is made up of two galleries, including 9 sections .One is Three Stars Accompany the Moon---Brilliant ancient Shu civilization, the other is Three Stars Shine forever----mysterious bronze kingdom.

Bronze Goat Taoist Temple (Qing Yang Gong) is also one of the most famous Taoist temples in China. It is conveniently located in the northwest part of Chengdu, in the Sichuan Province.

The temple was originally built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), a period when Taoism was flourishing. Most of the parts of the temple that remain in existence are restorations from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), including Sanqing Hall, Doulao Hall, Hunyuan Palace, the Eight Trigrams Pavilion, and Wuji Palace.

The most magnificent of these buildings is the Eight Trigrams Pavilion. Built on square foundations, with a colored glazed dome on top, this octagonal building reflects the ancient Chinese philosophy that "the sky is round and the earth is square". There are eight pillars with dragons drawn in relief in the corridor, and colorful caissons and the symbols of eight trigrams are ornately arranged across its ceiling.

While we are at this location, Lama Nicholas will give a talk in this very special, ancient location. I’m getting goose-bumps thinking about this now!

Day 3 – October 15, 2017 – Sunday

Morning - Visit the Taoism’s sacred mountain – Mount Qingcheng is in Dujiangyan, Sichuan, China. It is amongst the most important centers of Taoism in China. In Taoist mythology, it was the site of the Yellow Emperor's studies with Ning Fengzi. Elevation is 4,134 ft. Qingcheng Mountain is a majestic mound surrounding by lush forest and secluded tranquility. Marvel at the perfectly preserved Taoist temples that decorate the enclave. Marvel at the sacred temples and impressive halls cradled by dense layers of bamboo trees.

Afternoon – Visit the famous Dujiyangyan Irrigation System to learn about the UNESCO-listed example of ancient Chinese science and engineering. Dujiyangyan is the oldest and only surviving no-dam irrigation system in the world; and a wonder in the development of Chinese science. The irrigation system provides water to surrounding towns and redirects the Min River for the province's use. It was originally constructed around 256 BC by the State of Qin as an irrigation and flood control project, it is still in use today.

Following this activity we will head back to the city of Chengdu for dinner and to prepare for the evening’s events.

Evening – We will experience a traditional Sichuan Opera from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. We will experience the mesmerizing melodies and intense action of the Sichuan Opera during a 1.5-hour performance. Marvel at dazzling dancers and astounding acrobats as they deliver an extravagant spectacle of color and culture.

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Day 4 – October 16, 2017 – Monday

Morning - visit the Giant Buddha at Leshan. We will take a river boat to have the best view of the largest statue of the Buddha in the world. Did you know: Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone Buddha sculpture in the world, and the tallest pre-modern statue in the world?

The Leshan Giant Buddha is 233 ft. tall stone statue, built between 713 and 803, depicting Maitreya. Construction was started in 713, led by a Chinese monk named Hai Tong. He hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels traveling down the river. When funding for the project was threatened, he is said to have gouged out his own eyes to show his piety and sincerity. After his death, however, the construction was stuck due to insufficient funding. About 70 years later, a jiedushi decided to sponsor the project and the construction was completed by Hai Tong's disciples in 803.

Apparently the massive construction resulted in so much stone being removed from the cliff face and deposited into the river below that the currents were indeed altered by the statue, making the water safe for passing ships. When the Giant Buddha was carved, a huge thirteen storey wood structure was built to shelter it from rain and sunshine. This structure was destroyed and sacked by the Mongols during the wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty. From then on, the stone statue was exposed to the elements.

Afternoon – travel to sacred Mt. Emei and to the birthplace of Chinese Buddhism and Kong Fu.

This is the location of the first Buddhist temple built in China in the 1st century CE.[4] As one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China, this site has seventy-six Buddhist monasteries of the Ming and Qing period, most of them located near the mountain top. Mt. Emei is the highlight of the itinerary in Sichuan Province.

Next stop will be at the Baoguo Temple. The temple was originally called the Lingshan, but in 880 AD, during the Tang Dynasty it was renamed the Baoguo Temple. The main hall was rebuilt in 1013 AD, during the Northern Song dynasty, and is one of the oldest and most well preserved wooden constructions in China. The temple also contains columns dating to the Tang Dynasty, a hall built during the Ming Dynasty, and two halls and towers of the Qing Dynasty.

Evening - enjoy the Kong Fu Show 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Day 5 – October 17, 2017 – Tuesday

Morning – we will arise early to take the bus and transfer the cable car to tour the Golden Summit – the tallest and most sacred Buddhist Mountain in China. Located atop Mount Emei in Sichuan, China, this epic statue, at 48 meters high, is the 22nd tallest statue in the world. But its height is not its most notable feature, so much as its unique head, as this massive graven image faces in ten directions, one for each of the Bodhisattva’s ‘Ten Truths of Universal Worthiness’.

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Afternoon – after lunch we will travel to visit the Wannian Temple (Long Life Temple) on Mt. Emei. We will also travel to Mt. Emei Natural Ecology Monkey Reserve (Emeishan, China)

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Evening – we will take the bus back to the foot of the mountain around 6:00 p.m. We will have dinner out at the night market and personal time with Lama.

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Day 6 – October 18, 2017 – Wednesday

Morning – travel to the ancient and culturally rich city of Langzhong – the birthplace of the I-Ching, Feng Shui, and the Goddess of the West. Langzhong is situated on the large and mighty Jialin River and surrounded by nine mountains. It was considered by ancient astronomers and Feng Shui experts to be the perfect site on earth for Feng Shui. It is also one of 5 most ancient cities in China. The precious well-preserved Langzhong Ancient City was designed with the theory of the “unity of heaven and man” and is one of the "Four Ancient Cities in China" as well as the "National AAAA Scenic Spot". Since Langzhong Ancient City keeps the primitive features and enjoys multiple places of interests, like Zhang Fei Temple, Sichuan Examination House and so on, it is one of the best places to experience the culture and history of Sichuan province and China. With mountains and water embracing, this historic city has gained the reputation of “Langzhong Fairland” and the “Rare Treasure under Heaven”.

Afternoon – after lunch we will travel to visit the Wannian Temple (Long Life Temple) on Mt. Emei. We will also travel to Mt. Emei Natural Ecology Monkey Reserve (Emeishan, China)

Evening – we will take the bus back to the foot of the mountain around 6:00 p.m. We will have dinner out at the night market and personal time with Lama.

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DAY 7

DAY 8

DAY 9

DAY 10

DAY 11

DAY 12

Day 7 – October 19, 2017 – Thursday

Morning – we will start the day with Taiji-qigong exercise followed by sightseeing inside the ancient city of . We will see the Imperial Examination Palace, Feng Shui Museum, Zhang Fei Temple, and view the exquisite doorways and ancient villas. Langzhong is the origin of Chinese otherworldly evolution. It is the birthplace of Taoist religion, and where its founder, Zhang Daolin, flew off to Heaven; it is the birthplace of Feng Shui, where its founder, Fuxi, created the I-Ching; and it is the home of the Goddess Nüwa, and where she saved Chinese civilization. Langzhong is the spiritual crown of Chinese civilization, the epicenter of the I-Ching, Fengshui, Taoism and spirituality and the stairway to Heaven.

Afternoon - travel to the “Stairway to Heaven,” where the gods and mortals danced together!

Evening – we will visit the White Pagoda where Lama Nicholas will give an informative talk on the “History and Fundamentals of Feng Shui.”

Day 8 – October 20, 2017 – Friday

Morning – we will start the day with Taiji-qigong exercise. Afterwards, we will visit the East Garden to have a panoramic view of ancient city.

Afternoon – after lunch we will travel to the Yuntai Mountain and visit Yuntai Palace and the tomb of Zhangdaoling – the founder of Taoist religion and “The Way of the Celestial Masters.” It is said that this is the location that Zhangdaoling flew back to Heaven.

Evening – we will gather together for another fascinating talk presented by Lama Nicholas on “Taoism and the Way of Oneness.”

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Day 9 – October 21, 2017 – Saturday

Morning – we will start our day early with a Taiji – qigong exercise program. Then following breakfast, we will visit “The Courtyard of the Heavenly Palace – a beautiful national park where the tombs of the most famous Chinese astronomers and Feng Shui masters are buried.

Afternoon – after lunch we will visit Mt. Jiulong Shan “Nine Dragon Mountain” National Forest Park to pick herbs and have a traditional Chinese tea. The Nine Dragons Mountain Forest Park occupies 2,126 hectares of land and three scenic areas: Nine Dragons Mountain, Lihu Tai Mountain, and Huanghua Ling Mountain. The area was once the royal garden of the Daoguang and the Tongzhi emperors during the Qing Dynasty. In the northeast portion of the park are nine continuous ridges, similar in appearance to nine gathering dragons, aptly named Nine Dragon Mountain.

Evening – Lama Nicholas will deliver another talk on “Entering the Way,”

Day 10 – October 22, 2017 – Sunday

Morning – we will begin our day with our Taiji – Qigong exercise.

Afternoon – next we drive back to Chengdu and tour this city’s historic sites. If time permits we will visit Zhugeliang Memorial Hal Wuhouci. Located in the south of Chengdu, the temple is a famous historical site dedicated to the memory of both Liu Bei (161-223), Emperor of the Kingdom of Shu in the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280), and Zhuge Liang (181-234), Prime Minister of the kingdom. The temple encompasses 37,000 square meters, enclosed by red walls where there are spacious buildings shaded by towering old cypresses.

The title "Wuhou" was granted to Zhuge Liang, a famous military strategist of the Three Kingdoms Period (220-80 A.D.) was fictionalized in one of the classics of Chinese literature, The Tale of the Three Kingdoms. The temple was originally built by Li Xiong of the Western Jin Dynasty (265-316AD), 400 years after Zhuge Liang's death, and rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty.

Evening – we will enjoy a dinner out at a vegetarian restaurant.

Day 11 – October 23, 2017 – Monday

Morning – if time permits, we will participate in a last Taiji-qigong exercise in the Qingyang Monastery and then visit the Songxianqiao Flea Market for our last opportunity to do a little souvenir and antique shopping.

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Afternoon – we will travel to the airport to catch our flight back to Tampa, Florida! Our flight leaves Chengdu at 3:50 p.m.

Day 12 – October 24, 2017 – Tuesday

Evening – we arrive into Tampa at 10:46 pm

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Sichuan Province is one of the largest provinces in China with an area of 485,000 km² (187,260 mi²). Its terrain slopes from west to east on the whole and the main landforms include plains, hills, mountains and plateaus. The climate here is mild with plenty of rainfall. The average annual temperature is 14℃-19℃ and the annual rainfall is 900-1,200 millimeters. Located in southwest part of the country, it has been the gateway to Tibet. In fact, the western part of the province is one of the Tibetan-inhabited areas and visitors can experience customs and living habits of the Tibetan nationality here too. Another main ethnic group of the province is the Yi nationality, concentrating in western part of the province as well. Its capital city, Chengdu, is the cultural and industrial center for the agricultural Chengdu Plain and one of the first centers of printing in the country. It has also been famous for its luxurious satins, brocades, and lacquer ware since the 13th century.

Natural ResourcesApart from the main land forms like plains, hills, mountains and plateaus, Sichuan enjoys a wide variety of beautiful landscapes including ravines, basin, rivers, lakes, hot springs, waterfalls and limestone caves, etc. Some of them have been developed into scenic sites for tourism like the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area and Trumpet Shell Valley. Moreover, the diversified landscapes together with the nice climate nurse a great number of rare plant and animal species. The Hengduan Mountains in its west is home to over one fifth of the country's rare plant species, including the so-called 'Living Fossil', silver fir and sequoia. The mountains also host more than 50 kinds of rare animals, among which the giant pandas are most precious. Actually, 85% of China's giant pandas are living in this mountain area, earning the province a reputation of 'Hometown of Giant Pandas'. Visitors can contact with those lovely pandas in Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Center (one of the most important centers in the world for the captive conservation of giant pandas), Bifeng Gorge Base of China Panda Protection and Research Center, etc.

History & CultureSichuan is one of the birthplaces of the Chinese nation and plays an important role in China's history. As early as two million years ago, human beings had already begun activities in this area; about 25,000 years ago, civilizations appeared here and formed the highly developed ancient Shu civilization, represented by Three-Star Piles site (Sanxingdui). With the unification of China by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in 221 BC, the region gradually blended the Central Plain culture. Meanwhile, the local culture continued to develop. Up to now, the province could be divided into four culture zones: Ba Culture Zone, Shu Culture Zone, Panzhihua-Xichang Culture Zone and West Sichuan Plateau Culture Zone. During the Three Kingdoms Period (220 - 280), Chengdu had been the capital of the Kingdom of Shu. The long history of early-developed civilization has left this area abundant historical heritages, such as Dujiangyan Irrigation Project, Leshan Giant Buddha and Mt. Emei as well as distinctive local highlights like Sichuan Opera and the delicious local food. Sichuan Opera is one of the most famous operas in the country. Changing faces and spitting fire are the most attractive and mysterious skills of it. Sichuan food is also well-known all over the country and even in foreign countries. It is characterized by spicy and pungent flavors. Typical menu items are: Hot Pot, Smoked Duck, Kung Pao Chicken, Twice-Cooked Pork and Ma Po Tofu.